Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2000 00:01:50 -0400
From: Sequoyah <pendor@mailcity.com>
Subject: A Special Place--Part Thirty-three

		    A Special Place--Part Thirty-three

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				Disclaimer
  This is a work of fiction, any coincidence is just that, a coincidence.

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			    Additional Posting
     A Special Place is also being posted at http://go.to/gaywritersguild.
Check it out.

			      About the Story

A Special Place continues to pick up new readers--even when they see how
long it is and it's not over yet! Such pleases any writer.

The Boys from Oz continue to make an invaluable contribution for which they
have my thanks and hugs. A note of interest to some: My partner and I
received our Hopi overlay rings this past week and they are beautiful--corn
and eagel center motifs (you'll just have to guess which is which) with
rain, thunder and lightening and prayer feathers on the sides of the
tapered rings.

Chapter Thirty-five is the concert and exhibition. There is a possibility
that much of the real music will be available as MP3 files.

Finally, as always, your letters and notes are deeply appreciated.

Sequoyah

		A Special Place--Part Thirty-three--Michael

     Mary Kathryn came to supper with us Saturday night and after supper we
sat in the porch swing and talked for ages about a lot of things. I finally
told her what I had talked to Matt about and how I had felt pressured to do
and be something I was not. "I can't understand why boys--and in my book
they're boys--have to brag about having sex. I mean, is it a game like
basketball where you keep score?" she asked.

     "I guess it's supposed to prove you're a man. Being in love and loving
someone physically, I mean having sex, is never a part of the locker room
talk. Just fucking."

     "Well, I know some girls get pregnant to prove they are a woman and
some guy does the job to prove he's a man and there's another child without
decent parents. It's not about love. It's about... well, it's just
bullshit. So Matt thinks the women can put a stop to some of the locker
room talk. Who's the worst?"

     "No question about that, it's Ronnie Meyer. According to him, he gets
laid at least seven times a week."

     "His girlfriend is Melinda Howell, right?" I nodded. "Well, she is a
real firecracker and I expect there'll be fireworks when she finds out." We
talked a while longer, but not about that. We talked about loving each
other and how much we enjoyed kissing and all that, then got in some
practice before Margaret came out and announced it was time for me to walk
Mary Kathryn home. I knew the walk was going to be more than a little bit
painful because I had been hard for ages.

     "I planned for her to spend the night here, in my bed," I said.

     "Think you better come up with a different plan, young Michael,"
Margaret said.

     "But I want to," Mary Kathryn said in a very pouty voice.

     "No doubt," Margaret said, "but it's time to hit the road!" We all
laughed and I started walking Mary Kathryn home. The moon was only
half-full but the sky was absolutely clear, so the moon looked much
brighter than I expected. As we walked, I had to stop from time to time to
look at my beauty's face in the moonlight--and to exchange a few
kisses. Just past Matt's place there's a huge old oak which arches out over
the road. When we reached it, I took Mary Kathryn by the hand and we walked
under the tree and I leaned against it and pulled her to me. The moonlight
shining through the leaves of the tree make a pattern on the face which I
often saw in my dreams. A gentle breeze moved the leaves, changing the
pattern on her face, teasing me as her lips, eyes and nose were highlighted
and then shadowed. The fantastic beauty before me took my breath away.

     While we were on the porch, we did some making out but it was pretty
tame compared to what was happening under the oak. The pressure of her body
against mine made me even harder although I thought that was
impossible. Our lips were locked together and I found myself breathing for
the both of us. Well, not actually, but you know what I mean; every breath
Mary Kathryn took came from me. When she placed her hand on the front of my
pants and started rubbing my cock, I was in heaven! As she continued, I
felt myself approaching that point I have loved since I discovered what I
could do by rubbing and stroking my cock. Her touch became a bit more
intense and that did it. I was blinded by the climax that hit me. I had to
take my lips from hers as I was gasping for breath. When I had recovered
enough, I pulled her to me and whispered in her ear, "Mary Kathryn Larsen,
I love you, I love you!"

     Mary Kathryn stuck her tongue in my ear and when she removed it said,
"If you ever think I don't love you, Michael, remember... God, I don't know
how anyone could love a man more, I don't care how old they are." We stayed
under the oak for a while longer, exchanging tender kisses and telling each
other of our love. Finally we started back toward her house, our arms
around each other, still exchanging kisses. Reluctantly, there had to be a
final--long, passionate, but final-- kiss on her porch and I walked back to
my place. Had anyone seen, there was plenty of evidence I had had a wild
woman in my arms. I went upstairs and got into the shower to clean up and
embarrassed myself when I realized I was singing at the top of my
lungs. When I started the third or fourth time, "More than the greatest
love the world has known," I yelled "YES!!"

     Dad came rushing up the stairs to see if something was wrong. When he
knocked on the bathroom door and asked, "Are you all right, Son?" I shouted
through the door.

     "YES!! I'm wonderful. Dad, I'm in love with the most wonderful, the
most perfect, the most beautiful, the most loving woman in the whole wide
world!"

     Dad laughed and said, "I think I would challenge that, Son, but I
guess it would get me nowhere with you."

     "Margaret's great, Dad, and I love her to death, but she can't compare
with my Mary Kathryn."

     "Only a fifteen-year-old's opinion, but it would be useless for me to
argue," Dad said and laughed again.

     I wrapped a towel around me and came out of the bathroom, and Dad was
standing in the hall laughing. "Seriously, Dad, have you ever been in love
as much as I am?"

     "Twice in my life, Michael, and I can tell you it's a wonderful
feeling, especially when you are loved in return as I have been by your mom
and Margaret."

     "And I am by Mary Kathryn."

     "And as you are by Mary Kathryn," he agreed. We gave each other a high
five and Dad hugged me. "We are two damn lucky men, Michael Andrews."

     "Indeed we are! ... I meant to ask earlier, Dad, where's Uncle
Michael? I haven't seen him all weekend."

     "Well, he just said he had some business to attend to Friday and that
he wouldn't be back this weekend. I think maybe he's gone courtin'."

     "And?"

     "And I'm not sure, but when he left he seemed almost as happy as his
nephew was when he came back from a fifteen-minute walk that took an
hour. Good night, Son, and sweet dreams."

     "Yea, sweet dreams... you won't have to dream because you have your
woman beside you. I don't think that's fair!" I said in as pouty a voice as
I could manage.

     "A privilege of age, I guess. And since when was life supposed to be
fair?" Dad asked. I went to bed and dreamed of my Larsen beauty, but I was
also having some disturbing dreams which I didn't understand. I kept
dreaming that I was watching myself and couldn't really see me. I saw Mary
Kathryn holding a baby--which definitely was mine--but I couldn't see me or
who or what I was. It was puzzling.

     Matt and Luke had their first AP exam Monday--English--so I was
surprised when they showed up for lunch. "How'd you guys do?" Mary Kathryn
asked. All the seniors of the Fellowship were in AP English so they
immediately started talking about the exam. All thought they had done well.

     "I wouldn't have done shit," Luke said, "had Matt not coached me, but
I am confident I did well. Certainly not a five, but I'm pretty sure of a
four". The others thought they did about the same except Matt who said he
had done ok and the exam was what he had expected. He couldn't very well
say what we all knew was true; he had probably aced the test.

     While we were talking about the exam, Melinda Howell came into the
cafeteria--stormed in would be more like it. Mary Kathryn said, "Prepare
for fireworks. I told Melinda that her boyfriend Ronnie Meyer had been
bragging about having sex with her and she exploded." We all looked up and
it was obvious Melinda was steaming. She walked--no, rocketed would be more
accurate--to the table where Ronnie was sitting with some of his
friends. When she reached it, she planted her feet about two feet apart and
practically shouted, "Ronnie, I'm through with you! You've been bragging
about having sex with me, you lying bastard! You have been trying for ages
and when I finally decided it was ok, you needle dick, you couldn't get it
up! That's as close as you ever came to having sex with me and that's as
close as you ever WILL get, spaghetti dick!" She then stormed over to a
table and sat down.

     "Thanks, Matt. I see what you mean about all talk and no action! Man,
I bet there's a lot less talk in the locker room from now on!"


                                                 A Special Place--Part
Thirty-three--Matt

     After lunch, Luke and I went to the office and checked out, taking
advantage of the afternoon off provision of the AP exam schedule. "Luke,
when Michael talked to me about being kidded because he was a virgin and
almost sixteen, he had another problem. I think in his
nearly-sixteen-year-old mind, they were close in importance."

     "Something as important as whether or not to have sex with my baby
sister?"

     "In case you haven't noticed, lover boy, your baby sister is hardly a
baby any more--a babe, yes, a baby, no! But yes, having sex with your
sister."

     "She loses her virginity before I do and there is going to be big
trouble," Luke said in a Jens voice.

     "Don't think you have to worry about that and I'm sure the kidding
will stop after today," I laughed. "Besides, I told him just to give the
locker room guys a wicked Michael grin and say something like, 'Man, if you
only had what I have' and let the guys fill in the blanks. Anyway, he's
really concerned about a birthday present for Mary Kathryn. Think we might
buzz over to Mr. Swartz's place and take a look?"

     "Sure. Why not?"

     When we got to Mr. Swartz's shop, he was delighted to see us. We told
him our problem and he suggested earrings which matched the central symbol
on Mary Kathryn's ring. "Do you remember what it is, Luke?" I asked.

     "Yea, its the face of the corn maiden."

     "Let me see what I have," Mr. Swartz said and went in the back. When
he came back, he had two trays, one of earrings and one of
bracelets. "Thought you might like to see the bracelets as well," he said
as he placed the trays on the counter.

     "Look at these," Luke said, holding up a pair of earrings with a
roadrunner on them. "Didn't Michael pick a ring with a roadrunner?"

     "Sure did. Man, that would be neat--earrings to match his ring for his
woman. Luke, my man, you are a genius. Mr. Swartz, would you put those
aside until we can talk to Michael? I'm sure he will think they are a good
idea and I would hate to have them gone if he wanted them."

     "Well, as you know, I have a good collection and sold few until some
teenagers with taste took a bunch of my lovely rings. Now they are raiding
my earring collection, it seems," he laughed. "Of course I will hold them
for Michael. Just have him call or come by."

     When we left the shop, I asked Luke if he'd like to hear a surprise I
was preparing for Millie and he said he would. We went by St. Mary's and I
suggested we call the school and leave a message for Michael that we had a
project we needed him to help with, and that I would pick him up. We did,
and the secretary said she would give him the message. "Make sure he
understands he is to be the only one we will pick up," Luke told her. As we
were leaving the office, I said to Gertie, "Gertie, I'm going to play
something for Luke I have been working on as a surprise for Millie. Now,
for heaven's sake, keep quiet about it because it has to be a surprise."

     "You don't think I will hear it here in the office, do you?" she
asked, somewhat amused.

     "I wouldn't be surprised! Just keep it under your hat!" Luke and I
went into the church and I told Luke to sit in Millie's place--everyone
knew where that was! "Luke, when I first started taking organ from Millie,
she would occasionally open up this Flentrop and blast away with a piece I
thought was great. Of course, when this monster is opened up, it should be
in a place at least twice the size of St. Mary's, but Mr. Willingham
insisted on having it. It has pipes that could have bird's nests they are
used so seldom, such as this one." I played a note on a 32-foot pedal stop!
In a small parish church, you just don't have a 32-foot stop, but
St. Mary's did! "When I first started taking organ from Millie--I was only
six ... remember that fuss?--Millie used to kid me saying, 'Matt, you may
be good, but don't think you'll ever manage this,' and she would cut
loose. Of course, when I started, I couldn't reach the pedal manual. In
fact, I couldn't even reach the swell pedal, so it was a pretty safe bet on
her part, but I think I can manage it now and I want to surprise my old
teacher." When Luke was in Millie's pew, I started and don't think I made a
mistake. When I finished, I got up and bowed as Luke stood applauding.

     "Damn, Matt, that's something! I bet Millie will wet her pants when
she hears that! Babe, how would you like to grab a burger and fries since
we will need to pick up Michael, and if we went home we'd almost have to
turn around and come back."

     "Sounds good."

     We took our time eating and talking and then went to the school where
Michael was waiting for us. "Michael, don't expect us to solve ALL your
problems, but I think Matt and I have solved the birthday present
problem. By the way, your's is tomorrow and you have AP history exam the
following day. When's the celebration?"

     "Well, Mary Kathryn's birthday is the eighteenth and Margaret asked if
we would like to have our celebrations together and we did. But it seemed
bad to have it the night before the concert, which it would be if we had it
the Saturday after her birthday, so the two of us asked if it could be this
Saturday night and that was fine with Margaret. Uncle Michael asked about
having it at his new place and we all asked, 'what new place?' and he said
he had seen an old house--you know one of those old Victorian houses in
Millie's neighborhood--along the river which had been allowed to run
down. Millie knew who owned it and told him how to approach the
owner--Millie had tried to buy it for years, but he hated Millie and liked
the idea that he had a run-down house in Millie's neighborhood. Uncle
Michael approached the man and told him he wanted to annoy Millie by moving
into her neighborhood and hinted that he was not the kind of people Millie
wanted living nearby. He bought the ploy and Uncle Michael bought the house
for next to nothing last week. It will have to have a lot of work done to
repair it and take care of other improvements he wants to make. He said
he'd like to have the celebration there. The house would be cleaned up and
the downstairs definitely usable, but not what it would be when he
finished. By the way, he told Dad he was doing some business last weekend
and had other plans so he wouldn't be home until Sunday night or
Monday. When I asked Dad what he was up to, Dad said he though he was
'going courtin' and that was just a guess."

     "Wonder who he's courtin'?" Luke asked, then got a surprised look on
his face. "You don't think it's Mr. Stephenson do you?"

     "I hadn't thought about it, but I wouldn't be surprised," I said.

     "I'm not sure. There's several years difference in their ages,"
Michael said.

     "Need I remind you that the same could be said of your dad and
Margaret?" Luke asked.

     "Hadn't thought about that either. I guess when I think about, say,
five years, it seems huge. I mean Mary Kathryn would be a middle school kid
if there were five years' difference in our ages. I guess it's a matter of
how old you are. Wouldn't that be great, since Uncle Michael has been
without a partner for two years..."

     "So has Mr. Stephenson," Luke added. "Do you think there's something
in the water on the farms? Seems love just kinda busts out if you hang
around out there. Well, here we are," Luke said as we pulled up in front of
Mr. Swartz's shop. "Matt and I came by today and looked at some earrings I
think you and Mary Kathryn would like."

     When Mr. Swartz brought out the tray of earrings, Michael started
looking at them and picked out a pair with the face of the corn
maiden. "These match her ring," he said, but didn't seem too enthusiastic
about them.

     "Here's the ones your friends thought you might like." Mr. Swartz took
a box from under the counter and opened it to show Michael the ones with
the roadrunner.

     "YES!" Michael exclaimed. "That's it. Her earrings would match my
ring. Yes!, but I don't have the money with me," he said as his face fell.

     "Matt and I thought of that, so we got money from the ATM which we
will loan you."

     "Thanks, those are perfect."

     "I'll wrap them for you," Mr. Swartz said, and disappeared in the back
of the shop.

     "Thanks, guys, those are absolutely perfect! What am I going to do
next year without you two around?" Michael's question touched a nerve since
Luke and I still were scheduled to be on opposite ends of the east coast
next year.

     Mr. Swartz came back with a beautifully wrapped box and gave it to
Michael, who took it with an almost worshipful attitude. Luke and I paid
Mr. Swartz and we walked to the Jeep, Michael carrying Mary Kathryn's gift
like it was the Holy Grail!

     As we took Michael to his place, I noticed Mom and Dad were home so
Luke and I stopped by. I was having dinner at the Larsens' and Luke and I
were working on calculus. The AP exam was Thursday and I really felt shaky
about it. In fact, I was feeling so shaky that Luke and I worked until
midnight every night, spending more time on calculus than English once he
felt confident about English, and now English was over we had really
decided to work on calculus. We stopped each night at midnight and piled
into bed without a lot of playing around. I was so tense that I was making
him tense and we were still running, so we were getting about six hours
sleep. Wednesday, we picked up Michael and Mary Kathryn after their AP
exams. Both said they were confident they had done well. "How about
spending some time at the falls?" Luke suggested. "I think all of us could
do with some relaxing time." He had instant agreement.

     "Just remember I have this week's only practice this afternoon," I
reminded the crew.

     Mary Kathryn crossed the canes and, when we had reached the beach, she
said, "Guys, I feel like skinny dipping," and started undressing. Luke and
I undressed each other, stopping for a kiss or two. When we were undressed,
Michael still had his boxers on and the tent in them suggested why he was
slow undressing. "Get 'em off, lover, and I'll take care of your growing
problem." Michael set a new world record for boxer removal. Man, he had
popped a great boner! Mary Kathryn laughed, grabbed it and raced to the top
of the falls and, without releasing Michael, dived. They swam back to the
beach and, when Michael got out, the river had done its job. "Told you I'd
take care of that boner," Mary Kathryn laughed.

     "Well, that wasn't exactly what I had in mind," Michael pouted.

     "Better clean up your mind, Michael Andrews," Michael's Larsen said as
she kissed him good time.

     "By the way, Michael, happy belated sweet sixteen! I forgot
yesterday."

     "So did I. I was too busy worrying about the AP exam and a few other
things. Thanks."

     "Matt and I have AP calculus exam tomorrow so we'll be ready to leave
after lunch--can't miss lunch with the gang these days--so why don't you
see if David will write you permission to check out early and Luke and I
will take you to get your driver's license."

     "Hot damn! Man, I sure would like that!" There was no question about
the kids of the family getting their licenses as soon as they turned
sixteen. We started driving tractors on the farm before we started school
and were driving the farm trucks before we were twelve. Nonetheless, we
were all required to get our learner's permit when we were fifteen and
drive with the adults. Also, our parents required us to take drivers
education even though we were all good drivers. After we got our licenses
there were very strict rules about what we could and could not do. And the
rules were enforced! I got my Jeep for my seventeenth birthday and shortly
after, Luke and I were showing off in MickeyD's parking lot and Dad saw
us. Luke and I were grounded for six weeks and my keys were taken for that
time. We even had to ride the bus to school and we learned our lesson! "The
next time it will be six months," Dad told us, and we knew he meant it.

     We started swimming and diving again and, after half an hour, we lay
on the blankets in the warm sun. As much as I might have wanted to make out
with my man, I was asleep in minutes. I suddenly waked up, wrapped in
Luke's arms. I looked over at Mary Kathryn and Michael and they, too, were
wrapped in each other's arms, sound asleep. I carefully freed myself and
raised up on an elbow to look at my Luke. Honestly, he was so magnificent
he took my breath away. I leaned over him and pressed my lips to his in a
tender kiss. Luke opened his eyes, smiled and pulled me atop his body as he
returned my kiss. "Babe, I'd like to keep this up, but I'm due at
St. Mary's in half an hour."

     "Then I guess we need to get dressed. Look at my baby sister and our
brother Michael," Luke said. I guess it sounds silly to talk about a very
well-developed sixteen-year-old man and an equally well-developed
not-yet-sixteen-year-old girl, both nude, wrapped around each other looking
innocent, but that was the only way to describe them.

     "Matt, I know Michael talked to you about the sex thing and a birthday
present, but I think he has something else going on. Have you noticed he
seems distracted at times."

     "I thought about it, yea, I think so. Wonder what's bugging him?"

     "Don't think he's having second thoughts about his Larsen do you?"

     "I think he's having second million thoughts about his Larsen and all
of them good--maybe naughty, but good. No, I think, even though they are
young--don't laugh, compared to us, they're young--I think their love is on
just about as solid ground as ours, Yonghon Tongmu." I smiled, thinking
about how Michael had carried Mary Kathryn's birthday present. "I just
don't know what, if anything, is going on with him. I guess we'll know when
he wants to tells us. Right now, I've got to rush or I'll be late. But,
first, watch this." I then yelled at the top of my lungs, "Hi, Jens!"

     Luke immediately saw what I was up to and yelled just as loudly, "Hi,
Dad!" Needless to say, Michael and Mary Kathryn shot straight up.

     "Damn you, I ought to bust your ass!" Michael said, still red in the
face from blushing. Mary Kathryn just pointed at him and laughed.

     "I've got to go, now that everyone is wide awake," I said.

     "Hold up a minute, Matt. I need to go with you. I want to talk to
Fr. Tom."

     "Doubt he will be there, Lil' Bro. He's seldom in the office this late
in the day."

     "Well, I kinda have an appointment," Michael answered.

     "In that case, you better get some clothes on." Michael quickly
dressed and the four of us walked to my place. Luke kissed me, Michael
kissed Mary Kathryn and Michael and I got in the Jeep.

     As soon as we were under way, Michael asked me, "Matt, do you think I
am a religious person?"

     "I don't know. What do you mean a religious person?"

     "Well, you know..."

     "I'm not sure I do. If you mean what most people mean by being
religious, you know, a goody-two-shoes who is afraid of doing something for
fear it might be wrong or that others might disagree; who works hard to
make people think he is religious; who sees church as a ticket to heaven;
who shows up every time the church door opens, but you would never know it
by the way he treats people; then hell, no, you're not religious. Thank
God! In fact, no, I don't think you are a religious person."

     "I think you are a full red-blooded man who has a sense of right and
wrong, of justice and injustice, far above that of many adults and
certainly almost all sixteen-year-olds. I think you will stand up for what
is right, seldom counting the cost to yourself. You respect people--even
those of us others condemn because we are different--and you love and
respect a woman and I mean both love and respect. You stand by your friends
at all costs, but aren't afraid to disagree or set them straight when they
are wrong. You love life and being alive, and don't let disappointments or
hurt destroy your spirit. You think deeply and, I suspect, engage in a
dialog with the whole of creation and your God. In my book, that makes you
a very religious person. No, that's wrong. A religious person, I think, is
what I described as a goody-two-shoes. You're not a religious person. You
are a spirit man, may even be called a spiritual man, but that's often
taken as being weak and you're not. You are a spirit giant and warrior."

     "Wow! I just keep wondering about what makes a person religious. I
mean really religious and not just a church-going bigot."

     "Michael, I grew up in St. Mary's and I have come to believe two
things are important and the rest is window dressing. The first is that
loving God means loving and respecting your neighbors, and that's everyone
and everything from people to bunny rabbits to the falls,
to... everything. I guess I owe a lot of that to Dad and his Lakota
background. The second thing which is important is to remember nothing can
separate me from God's love of me... nothing! Don't get me wrong, I love
church. I like the ceremony of the liturgy. I love the music, the hymns,
the bells and candles and flowers and incense--the whole smear. I love
them, but that's not being a spirit man--religious maybe, but it's not
important. For me, those things help remind me of who I am--God's beloved
son--and what I'm placed here to do--to love people and to bring joy to as
many as I can. So am I a religious person? No, I hope not. Am I a spirit
man. God, I hope I am and that I will become more so."

     "That's what I mean. I look at the family and see what we have gone
through--the pain and the joy--and how, when the chips are down, we support
and love each other and I say, 'That's what being religious means." Then I
think about all the hate spewed out at the Temple of Praise--even if
McBride hadn't done what we know he did--and all the pain caused by the
teachings Jens heard at Immaculate Conception and following what is said to
be religious. I get confused."

     "Michael, I'm no expert, but anyone who says that the love I have for
Luke and he has for me earns God's hate is full of shit! It's about loving
and being loved, about accepting the way life is and the people in it, and
accepting your own acceptance. And that's not religion and I want no part
of being religious. That's spirit."

     "You mean that, don't you?"

     "You're damn frigging fucking right I mean it."

     "Matt, think you better stick to being an expert on things spiritual
and let me and Luke be the experts on things filthy mouth," Michael
laughed, then said, "Thanks, Bro."

     I walked into the office with Michael and Gertie said, "Hi,
fellows. Michael, Fr. Tom is in his office. Matt, he wants to see you
before you go."

     "Thanks, Gertie. See you after practice, Michael."

     Practice was almost flawless. We concentrated on my two compositions
and a couple other pieces which needed some work. We decided we would do
another practice the next day and then Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of
the next week since so many in the chorus and ensemble were taking AP
biology and AP chem tests. When we broke up, I went to the office to see
what Fr. Tom wanted. When I got there, Michael was still in his office, but
Gertie said Fr. Tom had instructed her to send me in as soon as I arrived.

     I knocked on the door and walked in. "Matt, good to see you. How did
practice go?"

     "Almost perfect. I am getting worried that we might start getting
cocky, things are going so well."

     "Maybe I need to have Millie come around. I'm sure she could take care
of any cockiness!"

     "Threat enough Father! Gertie said you wanted to see me?"

     "Yes." Michael started to get up. "Sit still, Michael, nothing private
about this. In fact, it may be of interest to you and your family. Matt,
Millie called the Bishop..."

     "Oh, boy, Who's in trouble now?"

     "Actually no-one I hope. She invited him to the concert Saturday and
he had a commitment at St. Paul's, Jackson, Saturday morning and you know
that means he has to be there. But he said he was scheduled to be in
Brevard at St. Matthew's Sunday, and that was so far from Concord he didn't
see how he could make it Sunday afternoon either. But after all it was
Millie who had called, he had to come up with something. So he said since
he was scheduled to be at St. Mary's June 4th, if I could arrange to
exchange visitation dates with St. Matthew's, he'd be here Saturday night
and stay over. Of course, that poses two problems--aside from getting in
the housekeeper in two days to clean up after me before he arrives! First,
you are so involved in the concert that it hardly seems fair to ask you to
prepare for the bishop at the same time, and second, that means I have just
over a week to prepare anyone for presentation and
confirmation. Nevertheless, I called St. Matthew's thinking
Fr. All-Important-Cardinal-Rector--bit catty, but true--would say
definitely no but, unfortunately, the exchange suited him fine since it
allowed him to make the steeple chase which he MIGHT miss if the bishop
were there. So the ball's in our court."

     "Don't think the music is any problem. As I recall, the bishop is
pretty much tone deaf anyway--at least he never sings on key--and there are
pieces I will be using in the concert I can use for background music for
the bishop."

     "Not nice, Matthew."

     "I wasn't the one who called Father Bailey Father
All-Important-Cardinal-Rector," I replied.

     "Michael, I guess you think we're evil. Actually, the bishop is a
pretty strong person and a good man, but there are priests who think they
have a handle on God and they are the second incarnation and they really,
if you'll pardon the expression, piss me off. I think I am a pretty
good--actually, mediocre, but good--parish priest. I try to take care of
the people who look to me. I know I'm not overly important in the scheme of
things; I wish I were and had been braver at times, but never have I
thought I was special just because I wear a collar backwards. OK,
Matt. I'll see what I can do about confirmation. Know anyone interested?"

     "I am and I suspect Dad and Margaret are. Probably Mary Kathryn, but I
don't know how Jens will take to that," Michael said.

     "Think you can count in Luke and probably Eugene and maybe
Larry. Linda may even rope that lapsed Baptist she's hanging around with
into something like that."

     "Well, you take care of the music and Gertie and I will see who and
what we can round up. By the way, Michael, tell your uncle we received his
letter of transfer from St. Michael's, Charleston. I guess he must have
decided he can take high church."

     "Remember, he came to Charleston from Chicago so I guess he thinks
St. Mary's is kinda low, but he's closer to home now than he was in
lower-than-a-snake's-belly South Carolina brand of churchmanship," I
laughed.

     I expected Michael to have some comment about Fr. Tom's and my
discussion or maybe even his talk with the priest, but when we started home
all he said was, "I guess I have some things I need to think about. Maybe
talk to you one of these days, Bro?"

     "Anytime, Lil' Bro."

     Michael was silent for a time and then he said, "Matt, I keep having
the strangest dream." He then told me about his dream of Mary Kathryn and
the baby and his being there and not being there.

     "That's strange, Michael. You know I had a dream I had forgotten about
until you mentioned Mary Kathryn and the baby. Some time ago I dreamed Luke
and I were having our commitment ceremony and when I looked up, you were
standing in front of us in full vestments and I looked around and Mary
Kathryn was breast feeding a baby which was certainly your baby, but I
thought about Mary and the Christ Child. Seems similar to your dream."

     "Scares the shit out of me, Luke. Me a priest? I don't think so. Not
in this lifetime."

     "Remember when Millie said she couldn't decide whether you were going
to be a lawyer or a priest and you said you wouldn't even think about it or
something like that and Luke said you would now?"

     "Yea, I remember. Look Luke, keep all this to yourself, ok. I'm just a
little confused right now."

     "More than a little confused, Lil' Bro. You just called me Luke
twice," I laughed, "but, sure, between us. Let's drive by and take a look
at the place Uncle Michael has bought."

     "Great! He seems really excited about it." When we reached the street,
we passed the hospice where there were people working on the
landscaping--the house looked finished outside. A block later, we passed
one of the "smaller" Victorian houses--Dad had told me once it was a
"cottage" because it had "only" four bedrooms on the second floor and a
master suite on the first along with a living room, dining room, parlor and
kitchen. There were a number of workmen around it, but Uncle Michael had
described a much larger house so we drove on.

     Two blocks later we saw all kinds of vehicles and vans parked on the
street and, as soon as we saw the house, we knew why. There must have been
a hundred people working outside. A group was pruning old shrubs, getting
them back into shape, while others working on the landscaping were clearing
away brush and debris. Another group was preparing the lawn for new sod. A
crew was down on the river building a new dock and a gazebo. Several were
working on installing a beautiful stone walk from the house to the
river. Roofing people covered the roof, making repairs and painting the old
pressed tin roof. A crowd who looked like spacemen in their suits were busy
blasting off layers of paint from the exterior walls including the tons of
gingerbread adorning the old house. The ornate iron fence surrounding the
property was almost completely repaired. "Man, it sure must be costing a
mint," Michael commented. "And look just how damn huge that place is. But I
am sure this is it. Just for Uncle Michael? It must be great to be loaded."

     "I can't wait to see the inside," I said, "and your and Mary Kathryn's
celebration will be here. Wow!"

     When we got home, I told Dad and Mom what was going on at Uncle
Michael's and at the cottage. "And the bishop's coming."

     "Yea, I know about the bishop coming. Fr. Tom called me to give me the
news and to ask me to talk to Jens and Gabrielle about Mary Kathryn," Dad
said. "I was going to leave a message on their machine, but Luke answered
the phone. When I told him what I had called about, he said he was ready to
become a full-blooded Episcopalian. I told him to have Jens call me. I have
no idea how Jens will react to the possibility of Mary Kathryn leaving the
Roman Catholic Church." While we were talking, the phone rang and Dad said
it was for me. "Luke."

     "Yea, Luke, what's up?"

     "Matt, Mom called and she and Dad are going to be late getting
home. Some kind of meeting. She has called Yong Jin about my eating at your
place. I don't know why, after seventeen years, she thought she needed to
ask. Michael had already asked Mary Kathryn to have supper there. He had
something to talk with her about. All top secret apparently. Anyway, I'll
be coming over for supper. Do you want to start work early on calculus? I
know Greywolf will read us the riot act if we stay up too late the night
before a big test and I think just a little more and you'll go in feeling
confident."

     "Luke, I think it would take a miracle to make me feel confident but,
yeah, come on and we'll do some work."

     "Ok, on one condition: no playing around, ok?"

     "Well," I whined, "it's not ok ok, but all right. No playing
around. Strictly calculus."

     "All right, Sarang Hanun Pomul, it doesn't have to ALL be calculus,
but mostly. I mean this is serious business."

     "I know that, Yonghon Tongmu, and I do want to make you proud of me."

     "Sarang Hanun Pomul, you know I'd be proud of you if you flunked
calculus, but I don't like the idea of being proud of a corpse and you
would be one if you flunked the calculus AP! I'll be right over. Till then,
I love you, Babe."

     "Same here, Babe."

     It was about six-thirty when Luke arrived and aside from a greeting
kiss--which was not to be sneezed at--we hit the calculus. We worked
without stopping until Mom called us to dinner at 7:30. A few things I had
been confused about were now clear. Not only was Luke a whiz at calculus,
but also he was a great teacher. And, believe me, he took it seriously!

     We had a fairly leisurely supper and when we started back upstairs,
Dad said, "Guys, it's over at ten-thirty and to bed. Luke..."

     "I know, Greywolf, I planned to go to my own lonely bed tonight."

     "Daddy, why can't I have my play toy to sleep with?" I asked in my
best whiney little kid's voice.

     "Because, Baby Matt, you don't have a play toy to sleep with. You just
keep playing around and don't go nighty night," Dad responded in baby talk.

     Promptly at ten-thirty, Luke stood up, swept me into his arms and gave
me a good night kiss that would certainly make for good dreams, and went
home. I quickly undressed and slipped into bed, and thought about how hard
he had worked to make sure I would do well on AP calculus. He was right; he
had made me pretty confident. Not only did my nightly reflection give
thanks for him and his love, but for the very practical way he had shown
that tonight.

     At lunch, Luke and I were in a reversed position from what we had been
after the English exam. I said I thought I had made a four and Luke said
the test was what he expected. Michael and Mary Kathryn were passing out
invitations to their birthday celebration to the Fellowship. As soon as the
bell rang, I asked Michael if he were ready and he said he was past
ready. We checked out and went to get Michael's driver's license.

     The thing about the people who work in the driver's license place is
they think they are doing you a great favor rather than remembering they
work for you as a taxpayer so they are never in a rush. There were not many
people waiting in line when we got Michael there, but it was obvious it
would take longer than need be. It took an hour to get Michael up to the
desk, take the written exam and do his road test, but it was finally
over. He had his brand new license and I let him drive the Jeep. We still
had about two and a half hours before practice, so we went to MickeyD's to
celebrate. When we had our burger, fries and coke, we went to a local
drugstore which still had an old fashioned soda fountain and had a double
thick, double malt shake. I mean a real shake. MickeyD's burger may be
passable, but fake milkshakes are a crime. When we finished, I suggested we
show Luke Uncle Michael's place. As we drove up, Uncle Michael was standing
in front, directing some men who had started to paint the outside.

     When we walked up he said, "Hi, Guys. Didn't expect to see you this
time of day." We told him we had done the AP calculus exam and were free
and David had given Michael permission to check out to get his
license. Michael proudly produced it for Uncle Michael to examine. "Well,
since you're here, would you like a tour? I'm afraid the inside is a mess
with all the work going on, but it'll be presentable by Saturday,
Michael. At least the important part will be." As we entered the house he
told us its history. It had been built by a tobacco baron who had twelve
kids. The downstairs--living room, parlor, dining room--were huge and had
14-foot ceilings. The kitchen, which was through a large butler's pantry,
was also huge. There were also three large--actually huge--bedrooms, each
with a sitting room. "The old man's mother lived with him. In fact she
outlived him, according to stories, to spite his wife who took her darling
baby boy," Uncle Michael laughed. "These will be redone with wider door
openings, and made into a gallery--I may sell some things, but mostly it
will be showing things I have acquired and local artists' work. Luke, if
there is anything left unsold after your exhibition, I want to put all of
it on display if you will. I'm pleased there is already an outside entrance
so people can come without having to go through private space."

     "Let's go upstairs." There were wide, very ornate stairs leading to a
second-storey landing with doors on either end. "There are six bedrooms on
each side of the staircase. The six through that door, the north side of
the house, were the boys' and there is an outside staircase because boys
will be boys, you know, and if daddy didn't know they were bringing in
women, it didn't happen. Or maybe they brought in men and daddy certainly
wouldn't want to know that! The first three will be turned into a studio
and storage space for local artists. The back three, which will be closed
off from the front three, will be another private studio and
darkroom--reached from the private part of the house. The six on this
side," Uncle Michael said as he opened the door, will be our... my space. I
like what Millie did for her son's wing and I'm planning something
similar. A large sitting room, library/music room, a huge bedroom and a
large bathroom with a separate toilet--that's a Japanese idea we should
definitely adopt! A doorway will lead to the private studio on the other
side of that wall. Work will start here as soon as the carriage house is
done."

     "There's a carriage house?" Luke asked.

     "A very nice one, almost identical to the one in Chicago. It brought
back wonderful memories. I had thought about living there myself--to
remember earlier days--but events have changed my mind. As a matter of
fact, it is almost finished--living room, dining area and kitchen
downstairs and large bedroom with bath and a studio upstairs. I do expect
to move into it this weekend or the middle of next week at the latest. I
will be there until my place in the big house is completed. Michael, you're
getting the guest room back."

     "The studio area will be the last renovation since it will change the
roof and outside to admit light. Well, actually, the skylights are being
installed as the roof is repaired. Lots of renovation and changing to be
done."

     "Wow!" was all I could say. Luke and Michael, well, you know what they
said, "Holy shit!"

     "After you move into the big house, what's to happen to the carriage
house?" Luke asked.

     "I hope to have an artist in residence to offer classes and
exhibitions to the community. That artist will have a small stipend to take
care of his--or her--personal expenses, the carriage house, and freedom to
take paying students as he or she wishes. Actually, not a bad deal for a
young artist and it could add greatly to the life of the community."

     "Can I sign up as the artist in residence?" Luke laughed.

     "Actually, I thought you might like to do that in the summers while
you are in college, seriously. And I guess we could even have a musician in
residence. Same residence I suspect," Uncle Michael smiled.

     "Uncle Michael, do you know what's going on at the cottage down the
street," Michael asked.

     "Sure do. It's a kind of bed and breakfast for people who need to be
near the hospice which is just down the street. When you have people you
love dying, you need to be close and you need a comfortable place to stay
where you don't have to worry about anything. Just before he died, I asked
James to put a sizable amount of money into a trust fund to, in a manner I
decided, benefit a hospice. That fund will enable making the cottage very
pleasant and provide for food and a cook and housekeeper to take care of
people without cost. The upstairs will have two rooms for guests and the
downstairs will have four. The upstairs will also have an apartment for, I
hope, a couple who will serve as housekeepers and cooks for the James
Sanders Hospitality House. Luke, I want a nice sculpture in the front of
the cottage. Be thinking about whether or not you would take a commission
to do one."

     "Think I just might. I might even have one that would kinda sum up
what that place is about, "Luke said with a sly grin.

     "Well, I really wasn't hinting," Uncle Michael said, then added,
"Well, to be honest, I was. I agree, it sums up what I want that place to
be. Think about it."

     "If you're not busy, maybe we can talk about that and the exhibition
while Matt's at practice, that is if you aren't anxious to get somewhere
Michael."

     "Well, I had thought I just might, possibly, maybe, be allowed to
drive the Jeep to school, but that's ok."

     "It's ok with me if it's ok with Luke," I said.

     "You can drop me off here and come back after you go to school
provided if you pick up a woman you keep your hands off her and she keeps
her hands off you." Luke sounded very serious.

     "Well, holy shit, Luke, I may as well not go."

     Luke laughed and said, "Go ahead, baby brother and be careful with my
baby sister!" Michael gave the big YES and tossed the keys in the air.

     "Luke, you may as well stay here. Michael can drop me off at
St. Mary's. We'll be by after practice." As I walked into St. Mary's, I
wondered if Uncle Michael made a slip? I was sure he said, "This will be
'our'..." and quickly changed it to "...'my' space" when he showed us the
upstairs. And there was a small private studio--with a darkroom. I think
David was right about who Uncle Michael was courting." I soon forgot that
as practice began, a practice which demonstrated there was no place for
cockiness on any of our parts. We sucked!

     When I got home, I was just about exhausted. The bad practice took
more out of me than two good ones would have done. I must have shown my
condition because, when Luke and I walked in, Mom said, "Bad practice I
see".

     "It really was terrible. Nothing seemed to go right. Afterwards we
decided we would practice tomorrow and have parents pick up their kids
because we are going to run straight through the whole program, then work
on the really bad spots. I don't know what was wrong, but I know it was
bad."

     "Maybe bad rehearsal, good performance," Mom said, trying to comfort
me.

     "Sure. In that case we should really be great. I'm going upstairs."

     "Supper in an hour or so," Mom said. "I'll call you."

     Luke and I went upstairs with his arm holding me close. When we got to
my room he said, "Sarang Hanun Pomul, you had two good practices so don't
let one get you down."
     "Luke, if it had been the first with two good ones following, I would
have been elated, but this way... well, if you do a painting and it is
good, it stays good. If it's bad and you do it over and it becomes good, it
stays good. Good paintings don't become bad paintings. Concerts do. I
really feel terrible. I have a blasted headache; think the practice might
have been my fault. I just..."

     Luke took me in his arms, kissed me gently and said, "Dark Angel, you
need some loving".

     "Luke, you're not going to believe this, but I just don't feel like
making out."

     "I didn't say you needed to make out. I said you needed some loving,"
he responded as he started undressing me. When I was in my birthday suit,
he picked me up, put me on my bed and undressed himself. I was so down when
I saw his naked body I didn't get hard. I really was down! He lay beside
me, wrapped his arms around me and pulled my body to his. Holding me, he
kissed me gently as he loosened my hair. With his free hand, he stroked my
hair as he sang softly, "More than the greatest love...". Resting my face
in the crook of his neck, held securely in his arms, I drifted off to
sleep.